Their business concluded, Mark and the hermit left the office and descended to the ground floor.
They were just leaving the building when Squire Collins entered.
He arched his brows in surprise. "You here?" he said, addressing Mark.
"Yes, sir."
"On what errand?"
Mark was privately of opinion that he had as much right to ask the manufacturer's business as the latter his, but he answered: "Mr. Taylor had business here."
Squire Collins smiled contemptuously. It did not strike him that the hermit's business was likely to be of any great moment. So people often deceive themselves and assume a superiority to which they have little claim.
"Probably old Anthony has just been paid his pension," he thought, as he left them, and made his way to the elevator.
He, too, ascended to the fifth floor, and leaving it there went to John Hardy's office.
"Good morning, Mr. Collins," said Hardy. He knew nothing of the manufacturer's home title. "I shall be at leisure in five minutes."